Car insurance providers have urged parents not to purchase second-hand car seats for their children, as they could have hidden dangers.

Such seats have been warned against, because they could have suffered damage during a previous car accident.

Research has revealed that around 713,000 child seats in Great Britain were second-hand, but 250,000 of these may have already been involved in a minor bump or major accident.

Around 15 per cent of used child car seats are received from family or friends, and many are brought second hand off the internet.

Lucy Hunter, Car Insurance manager at a provider stated: "Unless they are brand new as opposed to hand-me-downs, you cannot be 100 per cent sure of their safety."

Insurers have reminded parents that there are Child Car Seat Centres in England where you can get advice on buying and installing seats. These are in Wigan (Lancs), Bromley (Kent) and Rayleigh (Essex).

A child needs to use a car seat until they’re taller than 135cm or they reach their 12th birthday.